Graduation day for Continuing Education and Part-Time students
[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/CCE Grad Night edited.jpg” caption=”A total of 244 students graduated during the Graduation and Awards Ceremony hosted by the McMaster Association of Part-Time Students and The Centre for Continuing Education. Photo by Mark Walker.”]The McMaster Association of Part-Time Students and The Centre for Continuing Education held its annual Graduation and Awards Ceremony at the CIBC Banquet Hall on Friday, Oct, 20. A total of 244 students graduated.
“The words 'part-time student' give an image of dedication, sacrifice and juggling of an impossibly large number of tasks to many of us, particularly those who have been part-time students ourselves,” said Tracey Taylor-O'Reilly, Director of Continuing Educaiton
Donald Green, keynote speaker and Chairman of the Board of Governors at McMaster University had this advice for the graduates: “Follow your dreams with passion, determination and perseverance and the world will be yours.”
A record number of awards were given at the ceremony. Seventeen graduates and instructors were recognized for their achievements.
2006 MAPS Centennial Award: Graduate of the Diploma in Human Resources Management Program
The MAPS Centennial Award recognizes a certificate student who has overcome adverse circumstances in order to undertake their studies and/or who has demonstrated outstanding commitment in activities distinct from their studies.
Nalini Rao graduated in 2006 with her diploma in the Human Resources Management program. She undertook these studies concurrent to pursuing a Bachelor of Arts degree in Labour Studies, also on a part-time basis.
Rao overcame disabilities, including chronic pain resulting from a motor vehicle accident, to pursue her studies. She excelled academically.
Nalini also contributed to the broader community through her work with the Good Food Box program in Halton, and as a volunteer with the Multiple Sclerosis Society and Big Sisters. She is also well-known for her advocacy at McMaster on behalf of students with disabilities.
2006 MAPS Centennial Award: MAPS/CCE Awards of Academic Excellence in Certificate and Diploma Programs
The Centre for Continuing Education and the McMaster Association of Part-time Students are committed to promoting academic excellence. We wish to acknowledge the following students for outstanding academic performance throughout their program of study.
Dofasco Award for Academic Excellence
Continuing Education Annual Prize, Social Services
The Continuing Education Annual Prize, Social Services was established in 1992 by Professor Harry L. Penny. Dr. Penny was the Director of the Centre for Continuing Education from 1984 to 1987. The prize was awarded to a graduating student in social services, who has attained academic excellence.
The Centre for Continuing Education currently has 105 instructors from varying backgrounds. Some are faculty members, and others are outstanding professionals in their fields.
The quality of a university's instructors is what makes or breaks the student experience. The instructors are vigorously evaluated and strive for excellence in facilitating adult learning.
The CCE Instructor Appreciation Award is presented to an instructor who has made significant contributions to a course or program and supports our mission of providing quality professional education.
Nominees exemplify many of our core values such as integrity, quality, service orientation, professionalism, flexibility, responsiveness, and of course, excellence in instruction and delivery.
Recipients of the 2006 CCE Instructor Award:
Gerry Culina
Culina is Operations Manager with the Municipal Health & Safety Association. For 13 years, Gerry was Health & Safety Manager for the Corporation of the City of Sault Ste. Marie.
Along with teaching for the Centre for Continuing Education, he also taught Human Resources related courses at Sault College of Applied Arts & Technology.
Culina's years of working in the Human Resources field enabled him to provide students with a wealth of information related to the subject matter. His broad experience in Human Resources and years of teaching in the field have been an asset to the Centre for Continuing Education as Culina can be called upon to teach almost any of the related Human Resources courses.
His willingness to not only teach new courses, but write new curriculum on short notice has helped the program and students immensely. It's not unusual for Gerry to teach at least two courses per semester and that includes Spring when he is teaching four times per week.
Edith Smith B.A., M.A., Ph.D.
“A challenging, inspirational instructor.”
“Manages to engage everyone in the class.”
Those are just two of the numerous accolades Dr. Edith Smith received from her students during her years of teaching creative writing courses with CCE.
Smith has a long affiliation with McMaster University as a student, a faculty member and as a continuing education instructor. She received her B.A. in English & History, her Masters in Old English (7th-10th Century) and culminated her studies at McMaster in 1975 with her Ph.D. in Old English (7th-10th Century).
She taught English courses in Engineering, English and Arts & Science undergraduate programs and began teaching creative writing courses for CCE in the 1980s. Described by several students as an “asset to the university,” Smith's gentle advice and encouragement made her a favourite in the writing program.
She consistently received high praise from her students and, with her retirement from teaching this year, she will be greatly missed. Smith continues to spend much of her time helping students get published by editing their works and we wish her well as she continues to make a difference in her other roles as animal advocate, environmental activist and farmwoman.
